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William Carey University
William Carey University says yes to 60.3% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $43,087 median earnings.
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William Carey University sits in Hattiesburg proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Baptist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $82,147 four years out. 27.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,201 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 77.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 880 and 1200 — near the MS middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on William Carey University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, William Carey University received 571 applications and admitted 331 (58%), with 204 enrolling.
Test scores are a required part of every application here. That makes the 880–1200 range unusually informative: everyone admitted is in the data.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 460 | 580 | 620 |
| SAT Math | 420 | 540 | 580 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 22 | 27 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How William Carey University compares
| William Carey University | Mississippi median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 60.3% | 77.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,480 | $10,202 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $43,087 | $42,539 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors William Carey University: $43,087 median at year ten, versus $42,539 across Mississippi institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $15,480 regardless of where you're from. At William Carey University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 2,201 undergrads, William Carey University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
59.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 40% don't — ask a William Carey University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at William Carey University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $82,147 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $61,978 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $51,866 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,430 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,152 |
| Biology, General | $46,598 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,389 |
| Psychology, General | $38,325 |
Median earnings for these 8 William Carey University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $43,087 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 22 additional William Carey University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for William Carey University?
Among the admitted class, the middle 50% scored 880–1200 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 60.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is William Carey University's acceptance rate?
58% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 331 admitted from 571 applicants.
How much does William Carey University cost?
At William Carey University, published tuition is $15,480 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is William Carey University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do William Carey University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $43,087 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Mississippi
- Mississippi State University — 77.6% admitted
- Tougaloo College — 59.9% admitted
- University of Southern Mississippi — 99.1% admitted
- Rust College — 48.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.